January 10th, 2011
I-90 somewhere in Montana
Even folks in Florida this season are noticing that winter is here. Comes around every year folks but still there are those who are not prepared. Mostly for driving is what concerns me. You can’t drive like it was 80 degrees and sunny with perfectly dry road surfaces. I see so many wrecks out here on the road and many of them could have been prevented by using a little more caution. I had someone ask me the other day about what I thought about him driving from Minnesota to California this time of year. Nuts! I replied but the one thing I wanted him to know was DON’T use cruise control. We all get lazy or bored and don’t want to have to watch that ol’ speedometer while we’re singing along to our favorites tunes or doing other things which you probably shouldn’t be doing while you are driving. But here’s the biggest thing about cruise control. When you vehicle hits an icy patch or even standing water and your vehicle’s tires lose traction with the road surface you are in a skid, even if it only lasts a fraction of a second. Traction is actually what? It’s resistance and if there is no resistance that cruise control will shoot you into another lane, the median, another vehicle or worse. If your foot is on the accelerator, you will feel the instant difference and you can let off the gas. Steer straight – your wheels aren’t in contact with the ground so they’re not going to respond and if your wheels are turned sharply when they do connect again, guess what? You’re going to flip. A word about hauling trailers in the bad weather too – if your trailer starts to sway allow the vehicle to slow down naturally, don’t slam on your brakes. Remember the skidding wheel leads so if your trailer is skidding it’s going to want to pass you. If you go into a jack knife your only hope is to outrun the trailer. Slim chance of that in reality. Ah – a disaster monger; I hear you thinking! Not really. I want you (and me) to be safe out there and get where we are all going without any incidents. Happy 2011!
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Tags: pet transportation, trailering
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December 21st, 2010
A dog named Boone remembers his transporter.
When I opened the pet transport division of my trucking company I figured we would do family relocations and ship pups and kittens for breeders, maybe a few dogs for trainers but I never really thought I’d be transporting so many rescues. One of these dogs in particular – a Weim named Boone – I picked up from a shelter in San Antonio, TX a couple months ago. This was a young adult male who had cigarette burns on his hindquarters and a very serious heartworm infestation. He was scheduled for euthanasia the afternoon of the day I arrived. He could not be adopted out so I took him to a foster farm in Springfield, MO. All of his treatment and shipping costs were paid by volunteers. A few days ago I went back to the same foster facility and Boone saw the van coming up the drive. He about burst through the door and came racing up to me. He offered play bows, ran around the yard several times then returned to my side, took my hand gently in his mouth and just stood there staring at me. I was moved to tears. Did this beautiful dog actually know from what I rescued him and did he really remember me? I wrote him a poem and wish to dedicate it to all the great-hearted fuzzy friends I have made in this job so far.
Will You Love Me?
You saw my pic, read my ad,
Called the number, made me glad.
Won’t you come to my place?
I will dance and kiss your face.
I’ll even let you take me home.
I’ll stay with you, never roam.
Oh please don’t pass me by?
I don’t drink, cheat or lie.
I can sleep in your bed or on the floor.
I’m just a dog but I’ll love you forever more.
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Tags: dogs, pet transportation, rescues
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October 30th, 2010
There were 10 dogs on-board the Titanic.
Branson, Missouri. OK. Before you brush this off as a concealed advertisement, it is not. What do you think of when someone mentions Branson, Missouri? For those of you who have never been there or don’t read ads in travel magazines, Branson cannot be described in one or two words. It is sort of a Las Vegas Style Shows Meets the Wild Wild West in The Ozarks. Lots of shows and attractions, most of which have a definate Country Western flavor but lots of shopping and other activities abound as well. Still sounding like a commercial, aren’t I? Sorry, I am trying to paint a picture of this charming resort area. Imagine my surprise when I find a replica of The Titanic here. 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean beach but there it is. The museum includes exhibits of actual artifacts from the mighty cruise ship which sank in 1912. Most of the passengers perished at sea. Among those lost were 7 of the 10 dogs on-board. Back in those days, there were no prohibitions against pets on cruise ships – if you could afford the pets’ fare, it came along. There were a couple of Pomeranians, an Airedale, a French Bulldog, a Chow, a Newfoundland, a Pekingese, a King Charles Spaniel, and a couple of unidentified breeds included in the passenger list. One Pom, the Newfie and the Peke survived. Today as you tour the exhibits in the Titanic museum in Branson, you will be accompanied by two King Charles Spaniels, “Molly” and “Carter”, named after a couple of the prominent passengers on that ill-fated voyage. The dogs are a charming addition to a rather fabulous exhibition and they add a really personable feel to what otherwise is just another something on your list to do and see. If you’re headed that way, check it out!
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September 24th, 2010
Just some unconnected thoughts going on today. We’re waiting on the new phones so that hopefully, we will have much better reception throughout the country. The cell carrier I have been on for the last 10 years grew well at first but seems to have topped out at their current coverage and that’s just not good enough for all the places that your critters need to go!
Getting ready to go again!
The next pet transport van leaves the west coast this weekend. Still a few spaces and time to get your pup or kitten booked for shipment.
Visit our new Current Events page for continuing updates, bits and pieces in the news, weather updates and just plain fun. If the new phones (Androids) are anything like they are cracked up to be, new pet owners and worried ‘parents’ will be able to receive “live” updates along the road. I think I need to buy yet another Dummies… book!
While you are on that page, be sure to check out this video! (It’s only 53 seconds long but still too large to download here.) Wyatt Earp Kitty was caught in the act of destroying a roll of paper towels that I left on the bed when I was cleaning yesterday. Guaranteed to make you smile.
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September 19th, 2010
Wyatt Earp Kitty loves to play fetch!
Wyatt Earp Kitty is like most of us. He has his likes and dislikes and favorite activities and perhaps even an agenda. As cats go, he is a little out of the normal range in my cat-owning experience. Oh, sure, he likes to play with strings and feathers and balls but when you throw his favorite ball for him, he brings it back. I’ve only known one other cat who loved to fetch. He’s good at entertaining himself too. A 79 cent roll of paper towels brings an evening of fun for him and laughter to me. Well worth cleaning up the mess afterward. In the truck or van when we’re on the road, he finds the windshield wipers fascinating and will chase those as long as someone is laughing. He thinks blowing the horn while I’m under the hood checking the oil is pretty funny too. He accidentally blew the air horn once but that frightened him so he’s never done that again. But one of the funniest things he does which is not really meant to be anything other than a message to me is torture my bunny. I got a little stuffed Easter bunny one year which rides up on the dash. If Wyatt thinks I have been gone too long he grabs Bunny by the back of the neck and carries him around. When he sees me coming across the parking lot, he holds Bunny up against the windshield and smashes the stuffed animal’s face against the pane. If I do not immediately return to the truck, Wyatt will then take Bunny and dunk him in the water dish. So to avoid a soggy rabbit and an unhappy Wyatt, I try to race back to the truck in time to keep that from happening. The other day, we delivered to a dog trainer’s and stayed around a bit to watch some of the lessons. The van was parked in the shade a little down the hill (my cats were the only passengers at the time) and while I was talking with a fellow K-9 enthusiast, I overheard someone say, “What has that cat got?”. I knew immediately! I spun around and ran towards the van yelling, “Oh no! Not Bunny!” That was worth a huge laugh from the group and now they all seem to think that the kitty has
me well trained! OK, maybe.
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Tags: Cat Stories, pet transportation, Wyatt
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September 15th, 2010
Finding pet friendly lodging can be difficult and expensive.
Something interesting I discovered while doing some research was that when we use a search engine on our computer to help us find pet-friendly lodging, we overwhelmingly type in “hotel” as our keyword. Guess what the number two keyword is? No, it’s not “motel”. That was my answer. It is actually “cabin”.
According to AAA, lodging is classified in the following categories: Bed & Breakfasts, Cabins, Cottages, Country Inns, Condominiums, Hotels, Motels, Working Ranches, and Vacation Rental Houses. There are also campgrounds on National Forests and Parks, State Forests and Parks, County Parks, and private campgrounds such as KOA. There are over 13,000 pet-friendly accommodations across the United States. So when it’s your turn to do an on-line search for pet-friendly lodging for your next trip, be very specific about the type of place at which you wish to stay. You will get a more focused list as not all web sites include all of the above keywords in their meta tag. If you are just looking to see what may be available in a particular area, take the time to do searches using all of these keywords. You might find somewhere to stay that you hadn’t even considered before!
Once you’ve made your decision, confirm that the chosen destination is indeed pet-friendly. Facilities are sold and policies can change. Always make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Some places only have a limited number of pet rooms or only allow pets in smoking rooms. Expect to pay a “pet deposit”. Some chains charge a one-time registration fee per pet, some charge a cleaning deposit, while most charge a non-refundable pet fee. At one hotel in which Barnum, Wyatt and I stayed, it would have been cheaper if I had a second person in the room rather than my cats!
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September 4th, 2010
Riding here is fun but know when to evacuate.
“Don’t go out tonight, Well – it’s bound to take your life, there’s a bad moon on the rise.” Such was the advice from Creedence Clearwater Revival in their hit song “Bad Moon Rising”. That reference is to a hurricane. In the Northern Atlantic Ocean, a distinct hurricane season occurs from June 1 to November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. The statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is the 10th of September. Technically a hurricane is a tropical cyclone; a storm that forms over warm waters usually building on a pre-existing system of disturbed weather. A strong tropical cyclone will harbor an area of sinking air at the center of circulation. If this area is strong enough, it can develop into a large eye. Weather in the eye is normally calm and free of clouds, although the sea may be extremely violent. The storm itself moves with a counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere. The average sized hurricane is from 200 to 400 miles across. “Landfall” is said to occur when the eye crosses the coastline. However, a “direct hit” where the eye never reaches shore can still reek plenty of havoc inland. Major amounts of rainfall, thunderstorms and tornadoes are common along with the trademark winds, storm surges and subsequent flooding. Most of us are aware of the mechanics of a hurricane and for those who live in the affected areas of the United States which is primarily the Gulf Coast and our Eastern Seaboard, there have been plenty of chances to experience the wrath and furor of these named storms. So, the real question here is, “What do I do with my pets (or horses) during a storm and evacuation?” The first, best answer to that is simply, “Be prepared”. You need a plan, something that your entire family is aware of and is capable of following. Know the evacuation routes and what your local law enforcement expects also. Your pets should be current on all their vaccinations and ideally live inside your home or be confined to your yard. This prevents last minute panicky searches for a terrified animal that isn’t going to come out of hiding no matter how much you call her name. Cats and small dogs need to go into carriers and larger dogs on their leashes. Horses should be trained to load into their horse trailers calmly. Now is not the time to find out your new horse doesn’t load or isn’t going to cooperate with all those great training videos you’ve been watching. For all your critters, have an emergency supply of food and water, and some sort of identification papers including photos, a list of prescription meds, and your vet’s phone number. While there is a specific route to follow to leave the affected area, you need to know where you are going once you are into a safe region. Under most circumstances, your pets are NOT allowed at public shelters. So, friends? relatives? favorite hotel or resort? Have this information with you and try to give them as much notice as possible. Being prepared helps keep everyone calm and that helps keep everyone safe.
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September 1st, 2010
Wyatt and Barnum posing as dash ornaments.
We recently conducted a survey on our website asking visitors about their pet transportation experiences. There were 5 simple questions with multiple choice answers and a space for comments. We learned a few things and confirmed most of our already held beliefs about pet owners, like the concern for their pets’ safety and well-being and insisting that their pets are a part of the family. The first question dealt with what was important in finding a transporter. “Price” and “Animal Experience” tied for first place with 67.9% of the voters choosing these selections. Least on the list was whether or not the transporter was licensed with the USDA. However, most folks admitted to not even knowing that animal transporters and handlers are
supposed to be licensed. Other issues mentioned were door-to-door service and safety records. Question 2 asked if anyone had shipped a pet and by what method. Most folks had either never shipped their pet or had taken it themselves. Responses to Question 3 dealt with those who have shipped by air. Most people have not used air transport to ship a pet, of those who have, many said it was a good experience. A few regarded the event an ordeal; one respondent’s dog was left behind on an empty airplane, another’s dog escaped from the carrier and greeted the employees at the cargo hold door. The majority of respondent’s have never shipped by ground either but those who have all claimed the experience was “Very Good”. The final question asked why pick ground over air. “Personal Attention” was the run-away top answer with remarks such as medications for their pets, special feeding schedules, and being able to speak with the driver about their pet rather than dealing with an automated phone system just to talk to someone a thousand miles away that doesn’t even know your pet is on the plane.
We thank everyone who took a part in this survey and we appreciate your answers and insight. May all your travels be safe – wherever however you choose to go!
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Tags: Cat Stories, dogs, pet transportation
Posted in Cat Stories, Dog Stories, Transport Tales | No Comments »
August 29th, 2010
Two rescued kitties go for a ride in our van.
People ship domestic animals for many reasons; they move, they buy or sell, they send prize dogs or cats to breeders or shows, they re-home a favorite pet with a friend or relative until they get better accommodations, or a pet is adopted from a shelter or rescue organization. Just like our merchandise shopping these days, if you can’t find what you want at the local mall, you just hop on-line, browse and buy, so now can you adopt a long-distance pet. I wonder about this practice since I’m one of those that likes to try on clothes before I buy them, so too would I wish to meet a potential new fuzzy family member in person before committing to their lifetime in my home. We are building a network of rescue agencies who are in need of transporting these newly adopted pets to their far-away homes. We commend those who spend of their time and personal resources to help these critters in danger of losing their lives. But we just saw an example of what happens when things don’t go well. This last trip brought us through South Carolina where we were asked to help out on a multiple cat rescue. A private rescue effort working with other individuals in the area, had gathered several cats but while the others were having fair luck in placing these pets, one lady didn’t seem to have a very good placement record. Concerned about the situation, it was looked into and the woman was declared an “Animal Hoarder” and 57 cats were removed from her residence. The sponsor, who I will call Mrs. H, lives in another state and works with several rescue groups. Mrs. H now faced the terrible decision of continuing to pay for these already once-rescued cats, which would now include vet bills and boarding or have them all returned to the local shelter where they faced certain euthanasia. She choose to save them all. This angelic woman has paid out over $14,000 (yes, that’s FOURTEEN THOUSAND!) so far and she is still paying for these kitties upkeep and has paid for all but one of the deliveries we have made on her behalf. So, what is going wrong? When I was a kid, there was a little old lady who lived down the street in most every neighborhood who seemingly collected cats. She was always referred to as the “crazy cat lady” but no one worried about their welfare; the cats aways looked fat and happy to us. These days, practically anyone can be a Not-for-Profit and many of these well-meaning persons can’t cope with the realities of the over-run pet population they wish to help. Or some, like the lady in South Carolina, are simply collectors. So, now we have another phrase – Animal Hoarder – and one more thing to worry about in the rescue business. We did, in fact, deliver to a household that already had multiple cats in residence in their humble but cozy home in the Appalachian Mountains. My co-driver and I were invited inside and saw no evidence of Animal Hoarding. These folks were just crazy-for-cats. There were a dozen or more kitties of various ages, all fat, happy, playful and pleased to indulge their visitors. I believe that most rescue efforts are for the good and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that on-line adoptions are going to be a asset to the effort.
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August 9th, 2010
Be careful where you walk in the desert.
I know, I hear you. I do this article every year. Sadly, it needs to be repeated because someone always misses it. According to one news source, at least 19 children that have been left in vehicles this summer have died from being overheated. You cannot leave pets, kids, elderly or infirm persons in a locked-up vehicle even “for just a minute”. It takes only seconds for the inside temperature to rise 15 to 25 degrees beyond what it is outside. If your child or pet should not be left in the car by itself then don’t leave them behind. Take them in wherever you are going and if your pet is not allowed, then maybe you should have left the pet at home. If your child is old enough to behave for a few minutes by his or herself or your pet can be confined to a cage or leashed into the seat, then at least roll the windows down part-way and park in the shade. But don’t be gone too long – the shade moves as the sun travels across the sky. This is a horrible way to die and a horrible thing for a parent to return to and no excuse for it happening in the first place. So, people, please think! If you wouldn’t sit there for 20 minutes, don’t make them do it for even two minutes!
Sorry to get so grumpy and to have to bring up such a morbid subject but I will keep repeating this story every summer until no one dies unnecessarily from the heat.
On our last pet transport trip, the temperature soared up to 112 degrees as we were crossing the Mohave Valley and on into Arizona.Not only do we not ever shut the engine off so as to keep the climate control at maximum, we also only stop where we can find grass or dirt to walk our doggy guests. Hot, hot pavement pushes oils to the surface and can burn into a pets’ paws. It’s better to keep them off the streets in the extreme heat.
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